[[seandotcom]]

Basically this PC will be for a machine shop, and they will be running SolidWorks all the time. I've been told the budget will be about $6,000. The more that can be saved, the better. That being said, I know how to make a killer gaming computer, but when it comes to these workstations, I'm lost. I want to make it as reliable as possible, so i'd like to avoid RAID and overclocking in this build.

My real concern is the GPU. Since CAD programs rely on the floating point precision of cards like Quadro, I know I need that type of card. I just don't know which one. I was thinking the Quadro 4000.

This is basically what I have so far:

Motherboard: eVGA SR-2
CPUs: 2x Intel Xeon X5650
RAM: 24 GB G.Skill Ripjaws DDR3-1600, CL9 (not too sure about this one, might try to go for 12 GB with more speed/better timings).
GPU: PNY nVidia Quadro 4000
OS Drive: 250GB Intel 510 SSD (might also look into 256 GB C300, not sure)

All of that right there is $4,335. I feel like this may be overkill, and I could get by with a cheaper system. At the same time, I want this computer to be, without a shadow of a doubt, the most face-rapingest computer this guy has ever had.

Any suggestions?

 

[CrazzyRussian]

Might want to look for a better GPU for that budget and I don't think 2 cpu's will be necessary with only 1 quadro. I suggest the FX5800.

 

[[seandotcom]]

so if I go for one CPU, should i get a Sandy Bridge based Xeon, or stick with a Westmere Xeon?

 

[Blast]

Edit: The cpu you have may be better performance.

http://www.servethehome.com/intel-xe...hmarks-review/

The E31280 would be the current top end SB server processor.

Plus, 1366 allows more than dual channel ram

That is a nice little bonus.

 

[fluxlite]

looking at that setup i'd get a better gpu and not bother with dual cpus.

I've never used that particular cad package before, but I'd take a guess at 12gb being enough. The speed of the ram shouldn't be a major consderation.

workstation cards are badass expensive, though (especially given they're almost literally identical to their gaming counterparts).

 

[djsi38t]

Maybe something like this board with a couple xeon's?Since you're not overclocking.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...US-_-13131389R

Wow that's a good price!

 

[odin2free]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819115080

Boom ya amazing if only had the money.....

go with the c300 or vertex3 that are out

 

[djsi38t]

Quote:

Originally Posted by odin2free http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819115080 Boom ya amazing if only had the money..... go with the c300 or vertex3 that are out

Can that chip even be overclocked?

 

[fluxlite]

Quote:

Originally Posted by djsi38t Can that chip even be overclocked?

I wouldn't recommend overclocking anything in a workstation or server.

There is also very little overclocking headroom in the xeon chips. (on server boards)

 

[stren]

1. Don't get the SR2 as you won't be overclocking, look at some supermicro server boards.
2. Get ECC registered memory, find out how much you need first!
3. Get a real server case with redundant power supplies and lots of loud fast fans to keep it cool (I assume you don't care about noise in a machine shop). Take a look at the supermicro server cases, they even have barebones ones that come with everything but cpu/memory and HD
4. Does solidworks use multithreading well? I.E. would you be better of with a faster single cpu system or a slower dual cpu
5. If dual cpu take a look at the E5645, lots of threads and cheap!
6. RAID is absolutely for servers/workstations, It's RAID 0 that you have to be careful how you use. Look at RAID 1 or 5. For raid 5 you will want a dedicated raid card. Personally I wouldn't rely on an SSD in a server unless it's a SLC and even then I would have redundancy. For a workstation sure maybe MLC is ok, but always have to think about the consequences, i.e what happens if I lose a drive?

 

[stren]

For example:

barebone case $1500 - comes with motherboard, redundant power supplies and lots of fans.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-282-_-Product
2*E5645 = $1200
6*4gb ecc memory $660
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820139547
WD RE4 drives $60 each, 5 would give you 1GB in raid 5
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-797-_-Product

Total:
$3600 + whatever workstation gpu you want

Change to SSDs for more $$$ if you want

If you want to use a real raid card rather than the onboard (not sure what that mobo uses) consider
cheaper option: $370
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-107-_-Product
+ battery backup $175
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-118-_-Product
or a more expensive $880
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-075-_-Product
+ battery backup (can't find the link but a similar price)

The real raid cards will give you better performance on raid 5 and also open up things like raid 6/50/60 depending on your needs.

I think the most important thing to find out is what really drives solidworks performance, is it threads, cpu clock frequency, gpu, ram, hard drive speed etc? Then you can work out how to spend the money from there.

 

[jach11]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811119225
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817139015
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16835150080
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820226100
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813128423
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819115066
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814133252
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16835185060 (2)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16835103065
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16827136226
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820227522
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16832116716

Total:$5,025.85

 

[stren]

Quote:

Originally Posted by [seandotcom] so if I go for one CPU, should i get a Sandy Bridge based Xeon, or stick with a Westmere Xeon?

I could be wrong because I haven't really had more than a cursory glance at the news on these, but they seem like just the xeon equivalent of the regular desktop sandy bridge, I imagine they just give you ECC support. So yes they're not bad if you want a single cpu system but I don't think they've released dual cpu sandy bridge xeon's yet. Like I said I could be wrong though

 

[[seandotcom]]

Quote:

Originally Posted by stren I think the most important thing to find out is what really drives solidworks performance, is it threads, cpu clock frequency, gpu, ram, hard drive speed etc? Then you can work out how to spend the money from there.

i'd say it's GPU first and then number of threads that will bear the most weight here.

i'm leaning towards the Quadro 5000, and then a Westmere based six-core with 12 GB of memory.

 

[stren]

Quote:

Originally Posted by [seandotcom] i'd say it's GPU first and then number of threads that will bear the most weight here. i'm leaning towards the Quadro 5000, and then a Westmere based six-core with 12 GB of memory.

Cool. The nice thing about the dual cpu systems are that you can always just fit one cpu and add another later if needed. The E5645 is really nice for the price, I have one in a server I built last month and it's handling a bunch of VM's just fine.